ÐãÐãÖ±²¥

Mission Update – Term 1 Week 5

One of the phrases often associated with Marist education comes from our founder, St. Marcellin Champagnat, who spoke about the importance of forming young people to become good Christians and good citizens. While these words were written nearly 200 years ago, they remain deeply relevant and the driving force behind our mission today.

For Marcellin, education was never just about academic achievement. Of course, learning, excellence and hard work matter greatly in a school community, but he believed that education should also shape the kind of people our young people become – people of integrity, compassion, and responsibility, who contribute positively to the families and communities around them.

During this season of Lent, the Church invites us to pause, reflect, and consider how we are living our values in everyday life – the things that help to make us good Christians and good citizens. We are invited into this special time of recentring – a time of prayer, generosity, and renewal, as we take the time to focus on what matters most. In many ways, Lent echoes the vision of Marcellin. It reminds us that faith is not just something we learn about, it’s something we live every day in the way we treat others, the choices we make, and the care we show for those in need.

This formation of our students is at the heart of what we do. At ÐãÐãÖ±²¥, we know the formation of our students doesn’t just happen in the chapel or in the classroom, it happens in the corridors, in the quiet conversations, and in the everyday ways we interact with our young people. Just as important, it happens at home too, through the partnership between families and the school. As we journey through Lent, we might like to pause and consider how we are contributing to this great Marist mission of forming good Christians and good citizens. 

Mr Stuart McClorey

DIRECTOR OF MISSION & CATHOLIC IDENTITY

From the Principal – Term 1 Week 3

College Family Mass

“Give without remembering, receive without forgettingâ€. This was one of several messages in the homily of Fr Michael Twigg OMI to our whole gathered College and families at the Family Mass last Tuesday evening. As well as celebrating the opening of the year and praying for the success of all in our community in 2026, the Mass provided the opportunity to present and bless our Year 12 and Year 6 Leaders as they begin their service to ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ in these important roles. Family means so much to us, and we were delighted to have parents present the badges to their daughters and sons.  Our Marist theme for 2026 is “Full of Grace – Transform the World with God’s Loveâ€. Fr Michael urged us to see Grace and be the Grace that God gifts us. This simple example of being people for others who give to anyone in need of love, recognition and time is a moment of Grace when we do so freely and without reward. One simple message from a family the day after the Mass captures the blessing that we are as the ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ community:

“Last night I attended our first opening school mass with our granddaughter …What a beautiful Eucharistic Celebration bringing the whole Community together … The students were so reverent and so respectful when applauding their peers chosen to take on leadership roles. I felt a real sense of Community. Please give our thanks to the many staff that it would’ve taken to organise. We look forward to attending many more Eucharistic Celebrations and other functions as part of the ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Community.â€

High Achiever’s Assembly

Our first Celebration Assembly on Marcellin was a time to celebrate the Academic Excellence of the Class of 2025 and our current Year 8-12 Academic Excellence from Semester 2, 2025. Another highlight of this gathering was the guard of honour Year 12 gave to the incoming Year 7 group. During the assembly, our Academic Captains announced the new Colours and Honours system of recognising excellence in Academics, Mission, Sport and The Arts. The first Colours Assembly will happen later this term, where the awards will be presented across these four pillars.

Daniel Miniello, Class of 2025, gave the occasional address to the assembly and spoke so well about working towards personal excellence. His message was one of perseverance, determination and gratitude for the support of family and teachers. Thank you to the parents and grandparents who joined us for this milestone celebration. Let’s all keep encouraging our young people to pursue personal excellence.

Ash Wednesday

The Season of Lent has begun and we recognised this with respectful Ash Wednesday liturgies at Lavalla and Marcellin. In each liturgy, we unpacked how we can embrace Lent through prayer, giving and moderating our lives. Ms Cole-Carter spoke in our Lavalla liturgy about her experience of serving a community in Kenya as a teacher in a village with few material resources but plentiful riches in community, and the aim to make better lives through education. Mr Box and Mr McClorey spoke to the Marcellin liturgy about how we can contemporise the traditional elements of Lent – alms giving, prayer and abstinence in our lives today. Please join us in supporting the raising of funds to Caritas Australia as they support education, dignity and health in impoverished communities.

Guild Swimming Carnival – Secondary

We are taking Guild Spirit to a new level this year and this was on display at the Guild Swimming Carnival at High Performance Centre this week. Pride and Excellence in Guild! Each Guild participated with great effort and commitment and the Class of 2026 led the way with passionate involvement and the fun of delivering the inaugural synchronised swimming event to open the Carnival. The quality of swimming was excellent throughout all years and 10 records tumbled in the pool. Our new Year 7 group gave it their all in their first Carnival. 

To view the record breakers, .

Congratulations to all students, Guild Coordinators and Guild staff, Physical Education Team and Ms Sara Kononen who led the Carnival. Well done to Marcellin Guild for taking out the Champion Shield and the Chisholm Guild for winning the Spirit Shield. A fine win by both Guilds!



Mr Andrew Watson

PRINCIPAL

From the Vice Principal – Term 1, Week 3

2027 Three Week Break

In 2027 the College will implement a three-week Semester break between Term 2 and Term 3. The confirmed dates for this break are as follows:

  • Term 2 Concludes – Friday, 25 June 2027
  • Semester Break – Saturday 26, June to Sunday, 18 July 2027
  • Term 3 Begins – Monday, 19 July 2027

We are providing this advance notice to assist families with forward planning for 2027. The full 2027 College Calendar, including all term dates and key events, will be published once finalised.

CrossSafe Survey

We encourage all families to complete this to assist in the establishment of the CrossSafe initiative, designed to keep our student and young people safe.

Our College has a pedestrian crossing on Tuscany Way that is manned through the Traffic Warden Program. When there is an absence that cannot be covered, through this program, this puts our students at risk.  Your insight is critical to ensuring the work of the CrossSafe initiative delivers meaningful outcomes for students and school communities.

Transperth Bus Services

The College has been made aware of issues with some School Special bus services arriving late. These have been reported to Transperth when we are made aware, and we ask that families also report the issues.

Students who arrive late due to buses will not be penalised as long as they sign in at Student Reception or Primary Reception.

ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Parents Forum – Save the Date

The ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Parent Forum (NPF) occurs once a term and is open to all parents/guardians. It is a parent community gathering led by the Principal and Vice Principal, in collaboration with a nominated ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Parent K-12 Executive Committee.

The NPF for Term 1 is scheduled for Monday 9 March at 6.00pm. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend in person in the JHN Learning Hub or via An agenda will be emailed to families closer to the evening.

International Women’s Day

On Friday 6 March we will celebrate International Women’s Day, a special time to recognise the incredible women in our community and continue to bring awareness to gender inequality.

Families were invited to a breakfast and panel discussion. The response has been overwhelming and the event is now sold out. Students will lead the discussion with our panellists:

  • Anna Snodgrass, Rio Tinto,
  • Lisa Webb, Fremantle Dockers, and
  • Jayne Taylor, Taylor HR.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to the event. If you have a ticket but are unable to attend, please contact communications@newman.wa.edu.au so that the opportunity can be made available to others.

Mrs Beth Murphy

VICE PRINCIPAL

Primary Update – Term 1 Week 3

The first few weeks of term have been full of energy, enthusiasm, and achievement across the Primary School. It has been wonderful to see students settling confidently into routines and embracing the many opportunities available to them both in and out of the classroom.

Swim Trials and Upcoming Swimming Carnival

Over the past two weeks, all students from Years 3–6 have participated in our annual Swim Trials. These sessions have been extremely successful, with students demonstrating not only their swimming skills but also admirable perseverance, sportsmanship, and a willingness to challenge themselves. Many students pushed beyond their comfort zones, tried new events, and encouraged their peers throughout the trial process. The positive atmosphere around the pool has been a highlight of the term so far.

We are now looking forward to the Primary Swimming Carnival on Friday, 27 February. Due to planned upgrades to our pool facilities later in the year, our carnival will be running in a split format to ensure all students have ample time to compete and enjoy the day:

  • Years 3 and 5: 9:15am – 11:30am
  • Years 4 and 6: 12:00pm – 2:30pm

At 2:30pm, all year groups will gather back at the pool to watch the highly anticipated Year 6 relays, always a favourite event for students and families alike. We will then conclude the day with the announcement of the Champion Guild and the Guild Spirit Award, recognising not only athletic achievement but also teamwork, encouragement, and positive participation.

Families are warmly invited to join us throughout the day. A sausage sizzle will be available for parents to purchase with money raised going to Caritas.

Run Club off to a Flying Start

Our Run Club for Years 3–6 has started the term with excellent momentum. Held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, the program is already attracting a strong group of enthusiastic students.

Run Club focuses on fitness, stamina, and on building confidence and creating healthy habits. The sense of camaraderie among students has been noticeable, and we look forward to seeing their progress over the coming weeks.

The Wizard of Oz – Musical Rehearsals Begin

Rehearsals for our 2026 Primary production, The Wizard of Oz, have officially commenced, and the excitement is building. This year’s audition process saw an impressive number of students stepping forward to showcase their singing, acting, and dancing talents. Their courage, creativity, and willingness to try something new were truly inspiring.

With the cast now finalised, students have begun working with Mrs Wynne on character development, choreography, vocal work, and staging. The early enthusiasm from the cast promises an outstanding production for our community in Term 2. We are delighted to see students embracing the arts and committing to a collaborative project that will stretch their skills and spark their imagination.

Lavalla Carpark

The car park has presented a number of challenges throughout the first few weeks of term, and we appreciate the patience families have shown during this busy period. While traffic does clear quickly once students begin arriving at the pick‑up area, we are still experiencing congestion earlier in the afternoon that is impacting the smooth flow of vehicles.

A reminder that Kiss and Ride does not begin moving until 3:00pm, once the school day has officially ended. However, we are seeing a significant line of cars forming on Empire Avenue well before this time. When this occurs, it prevents families who wish to park from being able to enter the car park, causing further delays and frustration.

To help ease congestion, we kindly ask that families using Kiss and Ride aim to arrive closer to 3:00pm, rather than significantly earlier. This small adjustment would greatly improve access for those who need to park and reduce the queue extending onto Empire Avenue.

For families who arrive and are unable to join the drive-through line, please remember that you will need to loop around again. Waiting or stopping in ways that block the car park entry affects visibility, access, and overall safety.

In addition, we ask that families avoid parking on the grass or in areas that are not designated parking bays. Vehicles in these spaces not only block sight lines for moving cars but also create difficulties when attempting to exit.

There is, unfortunately, no quick fix for a car park that many families are trying to access at the same time. However, these small adjustments will make a noticeable difference. Ultimately, a smoother and safer car park experience relies on everyone doing the right thing, showing patience, and working together.

Mindful Mornings 

As an extension to our Mindful Mornings initiative, students who arrive at school between 8:15am and 8:35am are welcomed into our undercover area, where they are supported by staff in a calm and supervised environment. It has been wonderful to see students engaging in board games, card games, construction and colouring. These purposeful activities foster positive social interactions while creating a settled atmosphere. This structured start to the day supports student wellbeing and ensures everyone feels focused, connected, and ready to learn.

Save the Date – Primary Family Picnic

We are delighted to announce that our Annual Family Picnic will be held on Friday, 6 March. This is always a much-loved community event and a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, relax, and enjoy an evening of fun and connection.

This year, we will have two food vans on site offering a variety of meal options for purchase, along with a dedicated ice cream van for a sweet treat. Families are welcome to bring picnic rugs, chairs, and any additional food they wish to enjoy.

We are delighted to announce that our Annual Family Picnic will be held on Friday, 6 March. This is always a much-loved community event and a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, relax, and enjoy an evening of fun and connection.

This year, we will have two food vans on site offering a variety of meal options for purchase, along with a dedicated ice cream van for a sweet treat. Families are welcome to bring picnic rugs, chairs, and any additional food they wish to enjoy.

We are also excited to welcome back the bush band The Pioneers, who will once again provide lively musical entertainment throughout the evening. In addition, some of our talented music students will be performing, showcasing the skills they have been developing through our Music program.

We look forward to sharing this special evening with our school community, please mark the date in your calendar.

State Sporting Representation

Congratulations to the following students for selection in the Western Australian teams in their respective sports:

  • Zoe Harris, Year 5, in December represented the UWA Little Athletics Club, competed in the 4 x 100m relay final, winning a bronze medal at the Athletics West State Relay Championships at the WA Athletics Stadium.

State and National Representation is an honour and an important stepping stone in an athlete’s journey. We commend these students for their dedication and commitment to their sport. If your child has achieved state or national recognition in their sport or extra-curricular activity, we would love to hear about it so we can celebrate their success.  Please let us know the details by filling out this form. 

Mrs Laura Christopher

HEAD OF PRIMARY

Mission Update – Term 1 Week 3

Our Family Mass this week was a wonderful celebration of our ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ community. It was a joyful opportunity to gather as students, families and staff, to pray together, to introduce our 2026 Marist theme, and most importantly, to share in the Eucharist. In coming together around the table of the Lord, we were reminded that our College is not simply a place of learning, but a faith community grounded in Christ and shaped by the Marist spirit.

A special word of thanks must go to our many Year 12 students who have generously committed themselves to serving as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist this year. Their willingness to prepare, to step forward, and to serve at the altar is a quiet but powerful witness of leadership in action. In the Marist tradition, leadership is always expressed through service, and these young people model that beautifully for our community.

We were very grateful to have Fr Michael Twigg OMI as our celebrant. In his homily, he offered six simple but profound words: ‘Give without remembering; receive without forgetting.’ These words capture something essential about the Christian life. To give without remembering is to offer our time, compassion and generosity without keeping score. To receive without forgetting is to live with gratitude – recognising the love, forgiveness and grace we have been given, and allowing that gratitude to shape how we treat others.

These six words resonate deeply as we begin the season of Lent and reflect on our Ash Wednesday liturgies this week. Lent invites us to look honestly at our lives and to ask how we might live more like Jesus – in humility, in generosity and in love. It is a time to let go of grudges, selfishness and indifference, and instead to grow in compassion and gratitude.

As a Marist community, may we take Fr Michael’s words to heart. May we give freely, without seeking recognition. May we receive God’s blessings – and the kindness of others – with thankful hearts. And throughout this Lenten season, may we continue to grow into people who reflect Christ more clearly in the way we live, serve and love.

Mr Stuart McClorey

DIRECTOR OF MISSION & CATHOLIC IDENTITY